Making a copy of your favorite t-shirt is a great way to get familiar with pattern making and sewing knits. Once you make this pattern a few times you'll be more comfortable and can challenge yourself to make more complicated garments!

Let me know in the comments if you have tried this before! And for those of you just starting out, I had to make this pattern 4-5 times before I got really comfortable with it and could make it with ease!

For this DIY I thrifted old curtains and shirts that were lightweight materials. The produce bags are easy to make, I used an overlock but if you don't have one you can zig-zag the edges like I did for the easy skirt tutorial here: https://youtu.be/gFGYZnk2rzQ

The bag should be 20"x12" and keep the original hems intact as much as possible, that way you don't have to do extra work.

Materials:Thrifted curtains or shirts- After I thrifted these things I gave everything a good wash. Twine/elastic - for closuresScissorsRulerChalk/marking toolSewing machine/overlock

I'm definitely more of a shower person. This shower melt recipe is great for getting an essential oil aromatherapy, the blend we used was Balance (from DoTerra) and grapefruit. That was for grounding and mood-boosting.

Big thank you to Karissa of Olive La Vida for sharing her knowledge: https://olivelavida.blogKarissa on IG: https://www.instagram.com/olivelavida/

Materials:bowl mixing spooncornstarchbaking sodaessential oilsspray bottlewaterice cube tray - if you don't have a silicone one, don't worry. Just use a regular one

The recipe is really easy:1/2 cup cornstarch2 tablespoons baking soda10-20 drops of any essential oils of your choice2 tablespoons water + spritzes from a spray bottle

Directions:Mix all the dry ingredients, then add your essential oils. Add your water and stir until mixed. Spritz the mixture with the spray bottle and feel the mixture. If you squeeze it and it packs into a tight ball it's ready.

Safety!Wear goggles or glassesWax burns, even though we suggest not getting your wax hotter than 185*F it can still burn. For minor burns run affected area under cold water.

Materials:1 Lb soy wax1 oz essential oils - we used lemon and lavender!wicks2-3 candle holders - we used 2 candle holders that had burned out their wax and candles, and one tin can!Double boilerChopstickOven at 185*F

Heat in double boiler wax until 180*F, add essential oils. When your wax is almost all melted, place your candle holders in a preheated oven for 5 minutes. You can pour the wax at 180-160*F. Let your candle cure for at least 72 hours to a week before burning!

We used small containers, so we used a wick that was for 2.5"-3.5" diameter. You can find it here:https://www.candlemakingsupplies.net/candle-wicks/soy---natural-br-wax-wicks/cate_65/p___P0810683.html

https://www.candlemakingsupplies.net is a great place to get your supplies. Not even affiliated just really like their store.

This is a tutorial for making your own simple loom, really it's just a piece of cardboard. You can make your scarf with any yarn, but to get this thick chunky look use denim yarn that I created here: https://youtu.be/OVZOW1amJWY

And use upcycled sari yarn. This project takes a while to set up, but you can pick it up, put it down and work on it when you want.

Materials:40"x15" piece of cardboardDenim yarn - my pieces were 60" long, but you can make them any length. Here's the link to the tutorial: https://youtu.be/OVZOW1amJWYSari yarnEmbroidery flossPliers - when the fabric is thicker, it's hard to pull the needle through all the layers. Use pliers to help!Scissors

Do you have an old pair of jeans that you wish you had a new use for? Upcycle those jeans into denim yarn!

For this DIY you'll just need scissors, a grid ruler, chalk, and a pair of jeans you're ready to craft-ify. So simple! Added bonus: no sewing needed!

What do you do with denim yarn you ask? Good question! Grab your biggest knitting needles or biggest crochet hook and make a chunky scarf. Or check out next weeks episode for a surprise.

Jenell from TrashN2Tees inspired this DIY, so check her out. If you want to make yarn from t-shirts here is a cool tutorial to check out as well: http://trashn2tees.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-to-cut-continuous-t-shirt-yarn.html

And here is another cool tutorial using t-shirts, but can totally be jean! http://trashn2tees.blogspot.com/2014/07/scrappy-t-shirt-rope-vase-tutorial.html

Do you have an inspirational word picked for 2018? Mine is GUIDE. I want to help people on their own path towards sustainability. By using our crafty hands!

Here is the One Word 365 - pick your own word herehttp://oneword365.com

Materials:Embroidery hoop - I usually get mine from the thrift store, gotta check periodically.Light colored fabric - you can use any kind, I used muslin from work that would have otherwise gone in the trash. WASH IT FIRST!Dye na Flow - it's a type of paint, super liquidy! you can find it here:https://www.dharmatrading.com/paints/dye-na-flow-fabric-paint.html?lnav=paints.htmlThreadNeedleScissors

Sometimes I need a kickstart on my creative process. I trick my brain into thinking creatively by going through a ritual before I sit down to work, one that puts a transition between the previous task and working creatively.

The physical things I need are simple: a timer, pen, notebook, glass of water.The woo things I need: palo santo either in a spray or burned in the air or some citrusy essential oil to help boost my mood.

What do you use? Do you have any tricks to help you get started when working creatively?

You can find more information on the Pomodoro method here: https://lifehacker.com/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-pomodoro-technique-1598992730

Christmas crackers are such a fun idea if you want personalized gifts for adults or children. Erin has been making crackers as part of her family holiday tradition and she is here to show us how easy they are to make. We had a good ol' time making this tutorial for you, hope you enjoy! Let us know what you put in your crackers!

Erin works at Bright Sparks in Australia:https://www.facebook.com/BrightSparksAustralia/IG: https://www.instagram.com/brightsparksoz/

Materials:Tubes - I used a roll from inside fabric that I cut on the band saw, but you can use toilet paper rollsWrapping paper - mine's recyclableTwine - we used paper twine, again recyclableScissorsGlue stickTissue paperCracker snaps - https://www.oldenglishcrackers.com

To wrap the tubes cut your paper the circumference of your tube plus an inch.The length of your paper should be your tube length plus 10"

Here are some tips and tricks to make your holiday season more sustainable! Let me know what you do in the comments below! Most of my tips are for Christmas, just because that's what I celebrate. But I would love to know more traditions! What do you celebrate and how do you make it sustainable?

Sustainable gift wrapping!https://youtu.be/PhNq1s_dJns

What should you make? This will help:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOX77G0f2fvLL0T4lCh2KiCREp-w_qLLH

During the holiday season, whether you celebrate or not, think about using your DIY knowledge for a good cause. Donate an item that you have handmade! I really like the 1 million pillowcase challenge, if you want to make one check out this DIY:https://youtu.be/5sdyKmjUFg4

What causes or charities do you make things for? I want to hear how creative you are in your creative giving, haha! Let me know in the comments.

List of Charity Sewing from Craftsyhttps://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/02/charity-sewing/

There is an adjustment period for those of us just starting on the zero waste/natural deodorant journey. Or I could just be a stinky kid. Either way this armpit deodorizer works great at the end of a busy day. Drop a splishy-splash on a wash cloth and wipe the stink away.

If you find your natural deodorant not holding up it's end of the bargain, make this for yourself. Be careful if you shave your pits, it may sting if you use it right after.

Here's the recipes I used:Vodka DeodorizerVodka - fill your container 1/2 wayFiltered water - fill your container the rest of the way10-20 drops of essential oils - I used bergamotShake before use*This one worked the best! WEIRD

Witch Hazel DeodorizerFill your vessel with witch hazel10-20 drops of essential oilShake before use.*This one was not as good. I was shocked.

This bag turned out so cute! It's a great way to keep your essential oil roller balls from knocking around your bag. I love to carry oils around with me for a quick-pick-me-up but they always get lost at the bottom of my bag. With my crystals... ANYWAY this project is also a great use of scrap fabric as the dimensions are 4" x5", plenty of sewing projects leave that much left over.

Materials:fabric - outer fabric and lining cut 4x5", with one rounded edgezipper5 1/2" elastic - you don't need to do the elastic part if you don't want to, it's if you want extra control

You want me to put my fingers where? Making your own natural deodorant is easier than I thought. I tried two different recipes, one with diatomaceous earth and one with bakings soda. Diatomaceous earth is less harsh than baking soda, and I found that to be true as I tried both for a week. While I like the diatomaceous earth recipe better, the baking soda worked better. Maybe if I try again and add more goo it will work?

Do you see the similarities? It was the same recipe but switching out baking soda for diatomaceous earth. I really liked the diatomaceous earth version because I got less irritated, and am trying it again this week. There are things I can try, like shaving my pits or exfoliating to help decrease stinkiness. If you want me to try the spray deodorizer for pits, let me know in the comments.